Handle for window mounted appliance



May 23, 1961 E. A. GAMACHE HANDLE FOR wmnow MOUNTED APPLIANCE Filed Sept. 18, 1957 FIGZ.

FIG.3.

|NVENTOR ERNES A. GAMACHE ATTO NEY A: [2,985,092 HANDLE OR'WINDOW MOUNTED APPLIANCE I Claims. cuss-94 This inventionrelat'es to window mounted appliances, more particularlyto fan apparatus mountable in a windowiframe, and has for an object to provide improved apparatusof this kind;

--In portable fans, oryother appliances, adapted to be mounted in open'window, entire assembly be quickly-and securely mountable, as well as, readily removable,'iin order that the assembly may be, moved either from one window to another, or to a floor position. This feature appeals to users who prefer, for example, one versatile fan to be used in a number of locations, and also to users who prefer not to construct a permanent frame for mounting the apparatus only during the warm seasons.

Where a window mounted fan of versible type is employed, it is only necessary to provide means for'securely mounting the fanin but one position because the unit is capable of either exhausting or taking in air in response to actuation by an electrical selector'switch. But in 'a low-cost unit,.=having a uni directional jm'o'tor, it is desirable that the entire fan assemblylbe capable of removal, reversal from front to rear, and remountingso 'that'reversal of air flow'direction can be efiected.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to render an economically produced fan adaptable to being securely mounted in an open window, as well as for use on a floor as a free air circulating fan, and also to provide means by which the fan can be readily reversed from front to rear in order to reverse the direction of air flow.

In accordance with this invention, these features of secure but readily removable window mounting, portability and low cost are provided by a unique and novel handle structure mounted on the fan casing or housing.

The carrying handle is equipped with integrally formed lugs, spaced horizontally from the handle grip portion and extending upwardly from the base portion of the handle to define saddle portions for receiving a movable sash member of a double-hung window.

The foregoing and other objects are effected by the invention as will be apparent from the following description and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a fan constructed in accordance with this invention and mounted in a window.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the upper portion of the fan shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the handle employed in the fan shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the handle of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the invention is applied to a portable ventilating fan, commonly known as the suitcase type, shown in Figs. 1 and 2 positioned in an opened, double-hung window for taking in outside air. As in prior art structures, the fan proper is comprised of a housing 11 which supports a bladed, motor-driven, fan rotor, generally indicated at 12, for

it is, desirable that the the electrically ref 2,985,092 Patented May 23, 1 961 forcing air through the open window 10. Suitable guards 13 and'14, of open-work construction, respectively define frontand rear walls of the housing 11 and serve to prevent'inadvertent contact with the rotating blades.

Conventionally supporting the fan in vertical position on a window sill are a plurality of rubber feet 16 which project downwardly from the housing 11. The feet 16 are effective in reducing noise resulting from vibration and also in preventing scuffing of thewindow sill.

Secured, asby' screws 15, to the upper central portion of the housing 11 is an'improved handle '17'which"per-' mits the fan to be carried conveniently from one location to another, and which provides hereinafter-described means for retaining the fan in the window. I

The handle 17 is preferably molded from a ductile plasticmaterial of high impact strength and is comprised of an inverted-U-shaped grip portion 18, integrally formed with a base 19, all being formed as a unit. The base 19 is comprised of a pair of spaced, transversely extending footings, one at each end of the-grip portion 18,

' and has integral lugs '21 extending upwardly therefrom on both sides of the grip portion 18 and in horizontally spaced relationship therewith. Byspacingeach lug 21 the thickness of a window sash fromthe grip portion 18 the handle 17 is provided with depressions or saddles 23 in which a portion of a-movable, lower. sash member 24 of the window 10 can be received for retaining the fan in the window opening (see Fig. 2). The vertically extending portionsof the grip portion 18 may also beconsidered as upwardly extending parts of the footings 19, since they form parts of the saddles 23 in which a.

portion of the sash member may be received for retaining the fan in the window opening.

Since the .fan to which this invention is applied is equipped with auni-directional motor, it is possible to force air through the window 10 in,,but one direction with" respectto the housing 11. In order to reverse the direction of air flow it is therefore necessary to reverse the position of the housing 11 from front to rear. To facilitate reversal, a saddle 23 is formed in the handle base 19, at both the front and the rear sides of the grip portion 18, so that the user can keep one hand on the grip portion 18 and the other hand on the sash member 24 while positioning the fan. Thus, the grip portion 18 is conveniently disposed interiorly of the sash member 24, regardless of the direction of mounting of the fan, and readily accessible to steady the fan while the sash member 24 is lifted therefrom. Where reversal of the housing position is unnecessary, as in fans equipped with electrical reversible motors, only one saddle 23, disposed exteriorly of the grip portion 18, is required to adapt the fan for window mounting in accordance with the teachings of this invention.

As has been previously pointed out, one of the principal features of this invention is the ease and simplicity with which a portable appliance may be mounted in a window as compared to prior art structures. Previously, it has been proposed to form shoulders or saddles in the casing for cooperation with a window sash to retain an appliance in an open window, but such an approach greatly increases the cost and complexity of the casing. It has also been proposed in prior art structures to provide movable, spaced-apart members which extend upwardly from the casing and are adjustable to receive the thickness of a window sash between them for holding the apparatus. But the handle of this invention has advantages over these prior arrangements in that it can be unitarily molded, has no moving parts, and is simply secured to the housing 11. Thus, a new and desirable feature can be added inexpensively to window-mounted, portable appliances.

To mount the fan in the window 10 the user merely opens the window by raising the loWer sash member 24,

lifts the fan by-the handle 17, and rests-the fanuld on.

not-so-limited, but is susceptibleofvarious changes and:

modifications without departingfromthespirit thereof.

What is claimedisz I 7 L An improved handle for a portable, Window mounted appliance having a'housingto whichsaid handle issecured, said handlecomprisinga base, a grip portion connected to the upper surface of said base, and 'a lug extending upwardlyfrorn said :base in spaced relation to said grip portion and defining with said grip portion-a saddle for the reception of-aportionof a window sash:

member:

2. A portable, window mounted appliance comprising a housing=and-air translating apparatus within the housing, said housing including topand bottomwalls, and an improved carrying-handlesecured to. the top wall portion,- saidbase having at: least one upwardly extending lug horizontally spaced-fromsaid grip portion, the arrangement being such-thatsaidthandle is adapted to receive and engage alower portion ofa window sash member between'saidlug and said grip portion.

3. An integrally moldedhandle'foraportable appli-' ance which renders'said appliance securelymountable in an open window, said handle" including a base com! prising, spaced footings, and an inverted-U-shaped grip of the-housing; said handle having a base and -a-gripportion supported on said base and having its lower endstenninatingrespectively in--said--footings,- eachof said footings extending transversely from at least one side of said grip portion and having at least one upwardly extending lug formed thereon in spaced relation to said grip portion whereby a saddle is formed adjacent said lug in the upper surface ofsaid footing for the reception of a portion ofua-window-sash members.

V 4. A handle, rigidly secured to an upper portion of a portable, window mounted appliance and including an inverted-'U-shaped: grip portion, abase for said handle comprising spaced footings formed attheends ?ofsaid grip portion and extending transversely therefrom; and upwardly extending lugsifornie'dm the; outer ends of said footings in spaced relation to said grip portion for defining a pair of'saddlesin the -upper surface of said footings at each side of said grip portion for the reception of a portion of a movable window sash member.

5." A portable window mounted appliance including a housing mountable in anopen windowhaving a vertically movable sash member, and a unitary molded-handle secured to a top wall of said-housing; said handle including: a horizontally. elongated' grip portion the axis of which extends-parallel. to the longitudinal extent of the top wall and also parallel; to th'e plane-of the window in the normal position of the appliance mounted in the window, said handle alsohaving apair of spaced -footingsone formed at .eachend 'of said horizontal grip por tion; eachof said footings having upwardly extending projections spaced from each other transverselyof thegrip portionand defining a-saddle in the' -upper surface-0f the footing for the reception-of'aportion fsaid mov able sash member;

References l-Cited in: thefile-of this-patent;

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,282,015 Williams} Miiy,5;,,1942 2,590,952 Fukal APIfiL I Li 1952' 2,661,895- Fiick ,,D ec. 8; 1953" 2,713,397" Tague et a1. .'-.Ii1ly 26,119.55? 

